Canadiens Wrap: Canadiens, NHL Trade Rumors, More Habs Hires

Are the Montreal Canadiens looking for more goaltending on the NHL trade market?

The Habs have added Vincent Lecavalier and Nick Bobrov to their hockey ops department

That and more in the latest Canadiens Wrap: 

Montreal Canadiens

The losing streak is over for the Montreal Canadiens! Thanks to Cole Caufield’s late-game heroics, the Habs got a well-deserved 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.  

The Montreal Canadiens made two more hires on Friday, bringing in former Tampa Bay Lightning teammate of Habs interim head coach Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier as special advisor to hockey operations. They also hired former New York Rangers and Boston Bruins director of pro scouting Nick Bobrov as co-director of amateur scouting. 

We don’t like to link the competition but a.) I’ve known Eric Engels for about 12 years now and consider him a friend, not just a colleague and b.) this interview he did with Montreal Canadiens executive vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton will give Canadiens fans some great insight as to what Gorton, general manager Kent Hughes and St. Louis have planned for a storied franchise that has hit rock bottom. 

There’s been increased chatter that the Montreal Canadiens are reportedly interested in acquiring Washington Capitals goalie Ilya Samsonov. 

Per Pierre LeBrun of TSN, the Bruins are one of a plethora of NHL teams interested in acquiring Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot before the NHL Trade Deadline.   

 injury and COVID riddled season, (and Marchand buffoonery)?

National Hockey Now

Boston: Are the Boston Bruins in trouble or was that 4-1 loss to the Isles Thursday just the ebb and flow of an injury and COVID-riddled season, as well as Brad Marchand’s recent buffoonery?

NYI: Our man on the Island, Stefen Rosner, gives the Islanders perspective from Thursday and focuses on the reemergence of former Boston University forward Kieffer Bellows. There have been whispers that the Isles have been shopping Bellows on the NHL trade market but his performance against the Bruins may make them reconsider. 

Philly: New Philadelphia Flyers special assistant to the general manager Daniel Briere is already busy scouting as the Flyers get set to become major players on the NHL trade market.  

Pittsburgh: What will the Pittsburgh Penguins do about impending unrestricted free agent Bryan Rust? If they want to sign him to an extension they will need to move some cap space on the NHL trade market. 

Vegas: The Vegas Golden Knights won’t be having a reunion with Marc-Andre Fleury before the NHL trade deadline, but have they now set their eyes on Rangers goalie Alexander Georgiev?

Calgary: Is Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter a Jack Adams favorite?

Vancouver: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes is free from COVID quarantine.

NHL

According to TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Vancouver Canucks may be pulling center J.T. Miller off the NHL Trade market until at least the offseason, and may even sign him to an extension. 

IIHF president Luc Tardif is confident NHLers will be at the 2026 Winter Olympics.